Conelrad automatic alarm and light system



if i Nov. 10, 1959 CONELRAD AUTOMATIC ALARM 'AND LIGHT SYSTEM- Fig.2

1.. E. RITTS Filed Feb. 25, 1957 FigJ Fig.4

Loyd E. Riffs IN V EN TOR.

BY QM WW 3m United States Patent CONELRAD AUTOMATIC ALARM AND LIGHT SYSTEM Loyd E. Ritts, Tucson, Ariz.

Application February 25, 1957, Serial No. 642,053

1 Claim. (Cl. 340-253) This invention relates to a novel electrical wiring device for energizing an audible and a visual signal automatically to provide a warning of electric power shutoff in the case of an air raid or black out in time of War.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of a means for providing a warning or signal that an air raid or black out is in progress at times when a radio for receiving a conelrad broadcast is not on during such times as late at night when a person may be sleeping thus advising the person to proceed to an air raid shelter.

The construction of this invention features means for sounding an audible alarm as soon as there is any power failure or shutolf while providing a low power source of illumination in the form of a hand flashlight for enabling the person not only to locate the device to shut off the audible alarm after he has been awakened but to provide suitable illumination for guiding the person on his way to an air raid shelter.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of an automatic warning device which can be plugged into any conventional electric outlet in any room in a persons home and which is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture thereby permitting wide distribution and utilization.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this conelrad automatic alarm and light system, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device comprising the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevational vievt with the cover removed illustrating the arrangement of the relay and batteries in the housing and showing the position of the toggle switch and lamp;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional detail view as taken along the plane of line 33 in Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a schematic wiring diagram of the various electrical components of the invention.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generally designates the device comprising the present invention. Mounted in a housing 12 are a plurality of battery mounts 14 receiving batteries 16 which are interconnected by various conductors as at 18, 20 and 22 in a series circuit.

There is also mounted in the housing 12 a relay 26 whose coil 28 is adapted to be connected through conductors 30 to an external source of electrical power and which has a pair of normally closed contacts 32 and 34 which are urged open when the coil 28 is excited.

Mounted in the housing 12 is a lamp socket 38 in which a lamp 40 is adapted to be mounted having a hood 42 for directing the rays thereof downwardly. The lamp 40 may be colored such as red and is shielded by the ice hood 42 so as to prevent the lamp 40 from becoming visible during an air raid. The lamp 411 is connected to the batteries 16 and through the contacts 34 and 32 of the relay by means of conductors as at 46 and 48 and a toggle switch 50 mounted on the housing 12 is provided for controlling the operative electrical circuit from the batteries 16 to the lamp 40 when the contacts 32 and 34 are closed.

Mounted in a casing 52 attached to the cover 54 of the housing 12, the cover being fastened to the housing by suitable removable screws 56 or other fasteners is a bell 58 or other suitable audible alarm. The bell 58 is connected to the battery 16 and to the contacts 34 and 32 through conductors 60 and 62, it being noted that a further toggle switch 64 is connected in the circuit-between the batteries 16 and the bell 58 and is mounted on the housing 12 for controlling the circuit when the contacts 32 and 34 are in a closed circuit position.

In use, when there is an electric power failure or when the power is shut off due to a black out, or air raid, this conelrad automatic alarm and light system will automatically turn on the audible alarm furnished by the bell 58 and wake up a sleeping person. Then, the person may shut off the alarm and actuate the switch 50 which may be either left in the on or off position so as to provide a light for the person to see wherever he may be going such as to a war shelter or the like. Further, this device may be used in times of peace as a convenient indicator for power failures.

Convenient accessories are provided for the housing 12, it being noted that a handle is provided at the top of the housing and brackets and 92 are fixed to the casing upon which the conductors encased in the electric cord 94 can be wrapped. Thus, the device is of a highly convenient size and readily portable.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown 'and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

An automatic alarm and light system responsive to a cessation of electric power from a power source comprising a relay having normally closed contacts, means for energizing said relay by said power source to open said contacts, an auxiliary electric source serially connected to said contacts, a light source serially connected to said contacts, an audible alarm electrically connected in parallel with said light source, said light source and said audible alarm actuatable by said auxiliary electric source, a first toggle switch electrically connected in series withsaid light source, a second toggle switch electrically connected in series With said audible alarm, whereby a cessation of electric power from said power source will cause the auxiliary electric source to actuate said light source and said audible alarm when said first and second toggle switches are closed, a housing structure, said auxil iary electric source, said relay, said light source, said audible alarm, and said switches carried in said housing structure, a handle on said housing structure for rendering said housing structure easily portable and actuating elements on each of said toggle switches carried externally of said housing structure for allowing for the selective operation of said system.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,811,712 Saunders Oct. 29, 1957 

